aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/advtrains_interlocking/database.lua
Commit message (Expand)AuthorAge
* Feature to add passive components to a section as fixed locks (for level cros...orwell2024-12-03
* Misc Fixes found during playorwell2024-12-01
* Make Buffers become implicitly their own TCBs and signals when interlocking i...orwell2024-11-25
* Add Blocksignal mode for signals to autocreate simple block routeorwell2024-11-14
* Support signal aspect selection for routes againorwell2024-07-20
* Fix working of the legacy signals under new systemorwell2024-05-24
* Connect the ropes, start on making the UI workorwell2024-05-23
* Merge branch 'new-ks-orwell' into route_prog_reworkorwell2024-04-08
|\
| * Continue with new-ks reworkorwell2024-04-05
| * Implement primitive distant signalingY. Wang2023-03-23
| * Record signal aspect to avoid excessive get_aspect calls; report testing cove...Y. Wang2023-03-23
* | Implement routesetting incorporating tscache, other improvementsorwell2024-01-28
* | Signals can have nil name, documentation on route deforwell2023-12-17
* | Implement RS cache, per-track-section caching of route locks. This will later...orwell2023-10-15
* | Fix map, fix train placingorwell962023-05-27
* | TCB Xlinking added, to make nonconnected crossings possibleorwell962023-05-27
* | Auto-Repair Track Sections/TCBs (automatically when adding/removing or trigge...orwell962023-05-27
* | Add TrackIterator interface as a common framework for walking along tracks (a...orwell962023-05-27
|/
* Interlocking: Correct duplicate influence points semi-automaticallyrelease-2.4.0orwell962021-11-14
* Signal influence points: Make sure to clear on removal of signal, clear orpha...orwell962021-03-12
* Fix things, rework signal aspect select dialog, transform old aspects on-the-flyorwell962021-02-10
* Fix removing stale TCB nodesrelease-2.2.0orwell962021-01-12
* Forbid track modification when train, IP or TCB is on it, better handle remov...orwell962020-10-07
* Do not throw error when sync_tcb_neighbors failsorwell962019-08-29
* Fix moving Signal IPs (no duplicate IPs)orwell962019-02-21
* Fixes regarding signal assignments/tcbsorwell962019-02-09
* Point speed restriction railsorwell962019-01-24
* Fix may_modify_section on newly created sectionsorwell962019-01-22
* Prohibit removing/changing of TCBs and sections while routes or signals are setorwell962019-01-22
* Do not print "couldn't determine section" warning when all traverser ends wer...orwell962018-10-29
* Miscellaneous routesetting fixesorwell962018-10-29
* Properly implement invalidate_all_paths, recheck lzb on aspect changeorwell962018-10-10
* Add signal safety control override, restructure control systemorwell962018-10-10
* Make signal influence point (~halt point) specifiableorwell962018-10-09
* Improve route programming:orwell962018-10-07
* Move passive API to the advtrains coreorwell962018-08-16
* Automatic working (re-set certain route on train pass)orwell962018-08-12
* Implement routesettingorwell962018-07-21
* Basic route management from signalling formspecorwell962018-07-04
* Signal assignment and route programming procedureorwell962018-07-04
* Implement trains blocking sectionsorwell962018-06-29
* get_ts_at_pos(), file for train-related stufforwell962018-06-29
* Complete Track Section handling, incl. removing tcb's and marker entitiesorwell962018-06-26
* Add track section concept and rework TCB design, implement new linking behaviororwell962018-06-21
* Add Track Circuit Breaks (TCBs), Database and Track Circuit Setuporwell962018-06-20
* Interlocking: Create demo signals, signal API and model for TCB configurer nodeorwell962018-06-19
* Draft of interlocking systemorwell962018-06-14
generated by cgit v1.2.3 (git 2.39.1) at 2025-07-14 01:09:06 +0000
#n476'>476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"  
  "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">  
<html > 
<head><title></title> 
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> 
<meta name="generator" content="TeX4ht (http://www.tug.org/tex4ht/)"> 
<meta name="originator" content="TeX4ht (http://www.tug.org/tex4ht/)"> 
<!-- html --> 
<meta name="src" content="interlocking.tex"> 
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="interlocking.css"> 
</head><body 
>
<!--l. 18--><p class="noindent" >


<!--l. 18--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1728">Interlocking</span>
<span 
class="ecsx-1728">System</span>
<span 
class="ecsx-1728">Guide</span>
<div class="tabular"> <table id="TBL-1" class="tabular" 
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"  
><colgroup id="TBL-1-1g"><col 
id="TBL-1-1"></colgroup><tr  
 style="vertical-align:baseline;" id="TBL-1-1-"><td  style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:left;" id="TBL-1-1-1"  
class="td00"></td></tr></table>
</div>
<a 
 id="x1-2r1"></a>
    <!--l. 20--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">1</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Introduction</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 22--><p class="noindent" >In real-world railways, a so-called interlocking system is a set of railway signals and trackside equipment. Its purpose is to prevent
conflicting train movements which otherwise could result in derailing or colliding trains. If you want more information, just search for
&#8220;railway interlocking&#8221; on the internet.
<!--l. 28--><p class="noindent" >Real-world interlocking systems perform this task by setting routes. A route is a path along a track that a train can safely pass. To set a
route for a train, the signalman (the operator of a signal box) has to set switches (turnouts) to the correct position and lock them in order
to make a signal for a train show &#8220;Proceed&#8221;. In newer systems, this is done automatically by the interlocking system. A route can
not be set if switches are locked to a wrong position by another route or if any portion of the route is occupied by a
train.
<!--l. 37--><p class="noindent" >The interlocking system in this Minetest mod tries to follow real-world interlocking systems as far as applicable. It divides tracks into
track sections and implements a route setting mechanism following the same principle.
<!--l. 42--><p class="noindent" >However, for the sake of simplicity of implementation and usage, not all concepts of real-world interlocking have been taken over.
Especially, there is no mechanism for overlap.
<!--l. 46--><p class="noindent" >If you are looking for a place to learn how real-world interlocking systems work, have a look at &#8220;SimSig&#8221;. By looking at their simulations,
you can obtain experience on how to set up your own interlocking systems in AdvTrains. The SimSig glossary is a good place to look up
unknown terms in this document.
<!--l. 52--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-3r2"></a>
    <!--l. 52--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">2</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Setting</span>
    <span 
class="ecsx-1200">up</span>
    <span 
class="ecsx-1200">track</span>
    <span 
class="ecsx-1200">sections</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 54--><p class="noindent" >In the real world, a line of track is divided into so-called track sections, or track circuits. Those systems often can not tell
where exactly a train is, but only which track sections it occupies. A route can never be set through an occupied track
section.
<!--l. 59--><p class="noindent" >A track section often covers:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">A section on a main running line, between two signals
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">A single turnout
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">A rail crossing, or a set of turnouts acting as a double/single slip switch
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">A siding</li></ul>
<!--l. 67--><p class="noindent" >You will find some examples on how to interlock certain patterns later.
<!--l. 69--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-4r1"></a>
      <!--l. 69--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">2.1</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Track</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Circuit</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Breaks</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 71--><p class="noindent" >In this mod, you will not directly configure the locations of track sections. Instead, you designate the borders of each track section using a
special node, the Track Circuit Break, abbreviated TCB.
<!--l. 75--><p class="noindent" >For example, if you want to create a track section for a piece of a main running line, you set up two TCBs at the ends of this track
circuit.
<!--l. 79--><p class="noindent" >Setting up a TCB works as follows:
     <ol  class="enumerate1" >
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-6x1">Place a TCB node somewhere near the place where the circuit break is going to be located.
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-8x2">Right-click the TCB node
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-10x3">Punch the rail which should act as TCB</li></ol>
<!--l. 86--><p class="noindent" >The result should look like this:
<!--l. 88--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="0_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m___s_assets_lyx_img_screenshot_20180830_142551.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 90--><p class="noindent" >Now you have assigned the TCB node to a rail. Right-click the TCB node once again. This will bring up a form which looks as
follows:
<!--l. 93--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="1_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m____lyx_img_Bildschirmfoto_2018-08-30_14-26-35.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 95--><p class="noindent" >You see that the form is divided in side A and side B. To designate where each side is, a marker is displayed on the rail. You can always
make this marker show up by punching the TCB node, and remove it by punching the marker. Both sides are shown as &#8220;End of
interlocking&#8221;. This means that there is no track section set up at this place.
<!--l. 101--><p class="noindent" >You should repeat this procedure once again a few meters away from the first TCB to create a second TCB on the same
track.
<!--l. 104--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="2_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m____lyx_img_Bildschirmfoto_2018-08-30_14-32-48.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 106--><p class="noindent" >Once you have both bordering TCBs set up, you can now create the actual track section. To do this:
     <ol  class="enumerate1" >
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-12x1">Right-click one of the TCBs
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-14x2">Locate the correct side (A or B) to create the track section
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-16x3">Click &#8220;Create interlocked Track Section&#8221; in the formspec on the chosen side.</li></ol>
<!--l. 114--><p class="noindent" >Now, the text on the formspec has changed. It shows something like this:
<!--l. 117--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="3_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m____lyx_img_Bildschirmfoto_2018-08-30_14-27-25.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 119--><p class="noindent" >Clicking &#8220;Show Track Section&#8221; brings up another formspec:
<!--l. 121--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="4_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m____lyx_img_Bildschirmfoto_2018-08-30_14-28-32.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 123--><p class="noindent" >On the top, you see a list of all TCBs that border this track section. In your case, there should be two TCBs listed. If there&#8217;s only one,
head over to <a 
href="#x1-17r2">2.2<!--tex4ht:ref: subsec:Long-track-sections, --></a>. You should now select a name for the track section, to identify it later.
<!--l. 128--><p class="noindent" >The same procedure is applicable when you create a turnout track section, except that you have to set up three or more
TCBs.
<!--l. 131--><p class="noindent" >The AdvTrains interlocking system allows you to add more TCBs after you have created a track section. This works without problems in
most cases. For example, you can easily insert a turnout into an already set-up track section and create another TCB behind it, and
AdvTrains will automatically detect the existing track section. Problems arise only if you try to insert a TCB in-between a section, in
which case both sides of the TCB will end up assigned to the same section. The code currently does not handle this case properly, so try
to avoid this situation by all means. As a last resort, you can always dissolve a faulty track section, as described in the next
chapter.
<!--l. 142--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-17r2"></a>
      <!--l. 142--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">2.2</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Long</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">track</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">sections,</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">crossings</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">and</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">other</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">edge</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">cases</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 144--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-18r1"></a>
      <!--l. 144--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1000">2.2.1</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1000">Very</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">long</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">track</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">sections</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 146--><p class="noindent" >If you try to set up a track section that is longer than 1000 nodes, advtrains won&#8217;t recognize the TCB at the other end because of a safety
limit in the traverser function, which is supposed to prevent deadlocks. This case has happened when the Track Section overview screen
only shows one TCB in the list. The procedure for this is as follows:
     <ol  class="enumerate1" >
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-20x1">Go to the second TCB (the one that wasn&#8217;t recognized). It should show &#8220;End of Interlocking&#8221; on the relevant side.
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-22x2">Click &#8220;Create interlocked track section&#8221;. The section created will be different from the one that is already present.
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-24x3">In the track section overview, click &#8220;Join into other section&#8221;
     </li>
     <li 
  class="enumerate" id="x1-26x4">Go back to the first TCB, bring up the Track Section overview screen of the first track section and click &#8220;Join with ???&#8221;</li></ol>
<!--l. 160--><p class="noindent" >The other, missing TCB should now appear in the list. If you accidentally started such a joining procedure, click the &#8220;X&#8221; button on the
right.
<!--l. 164--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-27r2"></a>
      <!--l. 164--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1000">2.2.2</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1000">Rail</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">crosses</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 166--><p class="noindent" >Since rail crosses are created by laying tracks across each other without logical connection, there&#8217;s no way for advtrains to know whether
rails cross each other.
<!--l. 170--><p class="noindent" >Rail crossings in interlocking systems are always one single track section, which in most cases has 4 TCBs adjacent.
<!--l. 173--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="5_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_m____lyx_img_Bildschirmfoto_2018-08-30_14-51-25.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 175--><p class="noindent" >The procedure is quite similar to the one for long sections: First, create two track sections for the branches, and then use the &#8220;Join&#8221;
function to merge both sections into one.
<!--l. 179--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-28r3"></a>
      <!--l. 179--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1000">2.2.3</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1000">Deleting</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">and</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">re-adding</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">single</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">TCBs</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">to</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">a</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">section</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 181--><p class="noindent" >In some occasions, for example when you remove a siding or a crossover, it can be necessary to unassign a TCB from a track section.
There are multiple ways to do this:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">In the TCB form, click the &#8220;Remove from section&#8221; button
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">In the track section form, first select the TCB in the list and then click &#8220;Unlink selected TCB&#8221;</li></ul>
<!--l. 189--><p class="noindent" >The result is that the TCB shows &#8220;End of Interlocking&#8221; and the section does not list the TCB as an endpoint anymore.
<!--l. 192--><p class="noindent" >The other case is adding a siding or a crossover, in which case one or more TCBs still show &#8220;End of Interlocking&#8221; although they should be
part of a section:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">Go to another TCB that is registered in the track section and click &#8220;Update near TCBs&#8221;
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">If that did not work, follow the procedure of creating a long track section</li></ul>
<!--l. 202--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-29r4"></a>
      <!--l. 202--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1000">2.2.4</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1000">Dissolving</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1000">sections</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 204--><p class="noindent" >If you made a mistake setting up something and you don&#8217;t see any other way to fix a misconfigured track section, you can always
delete it using the &#8220;Dissolve section&#8221; button. This operation removes the track section and sets all TCBs that previously
belonged to the section as &#8220;End of Interlocking&#8221;. This will always work and lets you start over new with setting up track
sections.
<!--l. 211--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-30r3"></a>
      <!--l. 211--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">2.3</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Interlocking</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">patterns</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 213--><p class="noindent" >Have a look at the following images. They show you how you can set up sections so that reasonable train moves are
possible.
<!--l. 216--><p class="noindent" >You should settle on a naming scheme for your sections. This way, you can determine the source of an issue faster
<!--l. 219--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-31r3"></a>
    <!--l. 219--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Signals</span>
    <span 
class="ecsx-1200">and</span>
    <span 
class="ecsx-1200">routes</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 221--><p class="noindent" >Signals are appliances that can give instructions to trains. That can be the permission to proceed, a speed restriction, or other
information.
<!--l. 224--><p class="noindent" >There are 2 types of signals:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">Static signals always display the same information to the train. This can be a speed restriction (or the end of one), a
     disallowal to proceed as shunt move or similar things. In most cases, these are signs.
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">Dynamic signals are what most people would call a &#8220;signal&#8221;. Its function is to inform trains about whether and at which
     speed they can proceed into the next section safely.</li></ul>
<!--l. 234--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-32r1"></a>
      <!--l. 234--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3.1</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Signal</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Influence</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Point</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 236--><p class="noindent" >Every signal is associated to a track on which the instruction should be followed. Signals are usually placed right next to the track on the
right side. Human observers do know then that the signal belongs to the track left of it, however, train safety systems (like the one in
advtrains) can not.
<!--l. 242--><p class="noindent" >This is the reason why a so-called &#8220;influence point&#8221; needs to be assigned to any signal that should actually give instructions to trains,
should the driver (if even there is one) fail to recognize the instructions.
<!--l. 247--><p class="noindent" >Depending on the signal and the mod that adds the signal, there are different ways to configure this. Signals integrated into advtrains
behave as follows:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">Static signals and all red-green light signals from core advtrains that are not assigned to a TCB can be configured by
     holding the &#8220;Use&#8221; key and then right-clicking the signal
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">All signals that are assigned to a TCB can be configured by first right-clicking them, then selecting &#8220;Influence Point&#8221; in
     the signalling formspec.</li></ul>
<!--l. 258--><p class="noindent" >The small formspec that opens allows you to set and later view or clear the Influence Point. To set the influence point, click the &#8220;Set&#8221;
button, face towards the signal and punch a rail about 2m in front of the signal. A small marker will be shown, indicating success. To
cancel setting an influence point, punch anything other. (note that then the influence point remains unset, regardless of its previous
state)
<!--l. 266--><p class="noindent" >The advtrains-internal train safety system ensures that the train always obeys any restrictions imposed by signals, if (and only if) the
influence point is set properly.
<!--l. 270--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-33r2"></a>
      <!--l. 270--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3.2</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Signal</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Aspects</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 272--><p class="noindent" >While static signals are mainly used for speed restrictions, the interesting ones are variable signals. Of course, you can always control any
variable signal by traditional means (mesecons, digiline, right-click) if the signal allows it, but that misses the point of this interlocking
system.
<!--l. 277--><p class="noindent" >A signal aspect is a piece of information that a signal shows to the train driver. It contains information about whether and at what speed
the driver may proceed at the signal.
<!--l. 281--><p class="noindent" >Every signal, both static and dynamic ones, imposes a certain aspect to trains passing the signal. For static signals, this is always the
same aspect, such as &#8220;Proceed at speed of 8&#8221; or &#8220;Shunt moves may not pass&#8221;. Dynamic signals, however, can display multiple different
aspects. The default for them is always as restrictive as possible, mostly &#8220;Halt!&#8221;.
<!--l. 288--><p class="noindent" >You should know that both static and dynamic signals use exactly the same properties for signal aspects. There is no difference in the
meaning of the aspect definitions.
<!--l. 292--><p class="noindent" >In the following sections, we will talk about main signals. By this, we mean a variable signal that can display both a &#8220;Danger&#8221; aspect
(trains are not allowed to proceed) and at least one &#8220;Proceed&#8221; aspect (train may proceed as train/shunt move, with optional speed
restriction), which act as an &#8220;entry signal&#8221; for one or multiple routes.
<!--l. 299--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-34r3"></a>
      <!--l. 299--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3.3</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Train</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">moves</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">and</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Shunt</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Moves</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">A &#8220;Train move&#8221; is a train that is running, going to run on or coming from a main line between stations, passing through
     or stopping at a station. Train moves can expect that there are no obstacles on the route and they can proceed at the
     maximum permitted speed of the line. This is the regular operation mode for trains. Shunt signals have no meaning for
     train moves.
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">A &#8220;Shunt move&#8221; is a train that moves within a station and/or is coupling or decoupling wagons or engines. A shunt move
     may never leave a station except into a siding. Also, shunt moves may drive at a maximum speed of 6 speed units, because
     it is usually not ensured that the path is free of obstacles. (however, advtrains ensures that every route is free of railway
     vehicles, even shunt routes)</li></ul>
<!--l. 314--><p class="noindent" >There are also 2 general types of signals: Main signals and Shunt signals. While main signals have a meaning for all types of trains, Shunt
signals only have to be followed by shunt moves. Usually, Shunt signals that are on a train move route are set to a Proceed aspect as
well.
<!--l. 320--><p class="noindent" >When a train reverses, its mode automatically changes to &#8220;shunt move&#8221; until it passes a main signal that shows &#8220;Proceed as
train move&#8221;, which is usually designated by a green light. From this point on, it can accelerate to maximum permitted
speed.
<!--l. 325--><p class="noindent" >Some main signals, like the ones from the Ks signals mod included by default, can also display &#8220;Proceed as shunt move&#8221;, which is
designated by 2 white lights along with the red light. Once a train passes this signal, it becomes a shunt move.
<!--l. 330--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-35r4"></a>
      <!--l. 330--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3.4</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">The</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">concept</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">of</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">routes</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 332--><p class="noindent" >A so-called route is a locked path between two main signals, which locks all turnouts in the correct position. Its purpose is to offer a train
a path on which it can safely proceed without interfering with any other train. A route always incorporates and locks one to multiple
track sections, starting with the one that lies directly behind the &#8220;entry&#8221; signal.
<!--l. 339--><p class="noindent" >Example: Imagine a station with 2 platforms on a single track running line. We are looking at signal A. You probably want trains coming
from the right to go into platform 1 or into platform 2, so you need to program 2 routes.
<!--l. 344--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="6_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_mods_advtrains_assets_lyx_img_route_ex1.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 346--><p class="noindent" >This leads us to the most important aspect of route programming: Routes always start at a signal (A) and end at a signal facing in the
<span 
class="ecbx-1000">same direction </span>(D and E), not at an opposite-facing signal (B and C). There are only few exceptions, we&#8217;ll cover this
later.
<!--l. 351--><p class="noindent" >When you set a route to make a train proceed on it, the interlocking system ensures that:
     <ul class="itemize1">
     <li class="itemize">There are no rail vehicles on the route
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">All turnouts are set to the correct position and it is impossible to move them
     </li>
     <li class="itemize">No other routes can be set that would in any way conflict with this route</li></ul>
<!--l. 360--><p class="noindent" >For this to work, you need to specify all track sections the train will pass along, as well as the positions of all turnouts that need to be
locked. Those are not only the turnouts that lay directly on the train&#8217;s route, but also some turnouts on adjacent tracks, the so-called
flank protection.
<!--l. 366--><p class="noindent" >The purpose of flank protection is to prevent runaway trains and/or wagons to pass into a route. This is achieved by setting nearby
turnouts to a position that points &#8220;away&#8221; from the route. Example:
<!--l. 370--><p class="noindent" ><img 
src="7_home_moritz_Home_Projekte_Minetest_minetest_mods_advtrains_assets_lyx_img_route_ex2.png" alt="PIC"  
>
<!--l. 372--><p class="noindent" >The upper turnout, of course, needs to be locked in straight (normal) position, while the lower one is not relevant for the route itself. But
what if the lower turnout was set to the diverging (reverse) position and the driver of another train approaching signal B fails to see the
red light? This train would crash into the first one. To minimise danger, that other train would need to be routed towards signal
D.
<!--l. 379--><p class="noindent" >There are, of course, situations, where both positions of a turnout would conflict with a route equally. In those situations, there&#8217;s nothing
you can do and no flank lock needs to be set.
<!--l. 383--><p class="noindent" >
<a 
 id="x1-36r5"></a>
      <!--l. 383--><p class="noindent" ><span 
class="ecsx-1200">3.5</span>   <span 
class="ecsx-1200">Assigning</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">main</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">signals</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">to</span>
      <span 
class="ecsx-1200">TCBs</span>
<a 
 id="Q1-1-0"></a>
<!--l. 385--><p class="noindent" >Main signals in the advtrains interlocking system are positioned - like in real life - at the border of track sections, because routes also start